【To,Treat,Ambiguity,Properly】 To

　　Abstract: Ambiguity is an inevitable language phenomenon that arouses current interest of many linguists. The present paper attempts to make a tentative analysis of ambiguity which is subdivided into phonological/phonetic ambiguity, lexical/semantic ambiguity, structural/grammatical ambiguity and pragmatic ambiguity based on its different causes. To treat ambiguity properly, the author points out that ambiguity is both a problem to avoid and an award to make use of. Thus several possible means to disambiguate are suggested, mainly attributed to achievements in the study of context.
　　Key Words: ambiguity; causes; context; disambiguate; application
　　
　　CLCnumber:H319Documentcode ：AArticleID：1672-1578（2012）03-0001-02
　　
　　Introduction
　　Language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbol used for human communication. It might be regarded imprecise concerning the ubiquity of ambiguity, which inevitably arises mainly out of the intrinsic arbitrariness and conventionality of language, as well as contextual factors.
　　1 Definition of Ambiguity
　　Ambiguity refers to a word, phrase, sentence or group of sentences with more than one possible interpretation or meaning in a given context. An ambiguous expression can be potentially understood in two or more ways. As Geoffrey N. Leech puts it, Ambiguity is the case of "more than one cognitive meaning for the same piece of language." (1969)
　　2. Causes of ambiguity
　　To treat ambiguity properly, we are supposed to analyze firstly the possible causes of different types of ambiguity. The most popular classification is employed in the following analysis, i.e. phonological/phonetic ambiguity, lexical/semantic ambiguity, structural/grammatical ambiguity, and pragmatic ambiguity.
　　2.1Phonological/phonetic ambiguity.Phonological ambiguity generally occurs in spoken language, where the utterance is conveyed and received by different breath-groups rather than syllable by syllable or word by word. Therefore, phonological ambiguity is frequently caused by factors as assimilation and homophones.
　　2.2Lexical/semantic ambiguity.Lexical ambiguity arises when context is insufficient to determine the sense of a single word that has more than one possible meaning. Due to the arbitrary relationship between sign and referent, multiple meaning seems to be universal in language, which is an essential feature of a language"s economy and efficiency. Actually the main cause of lexical ambiguity is multiple word meaning including polysemy, perfect homonymy, homographs, and transferred meaning. In a broader sense, these aspects mentioned are to a certain extent resulted in by semantic development or change. Multiple meaning is particularly common in the lexicon of English because of its varied history.
　　2.3Structural/grammatical ambiguity.Structural ambiguity arises from the grammatical analysis of a sentence or a phrase, i.e. a phrase or sentence is said to be structurally ambiguous when it has more than one underlying structure. To quote John Lyons, structural ambiguity may exist in "any sentence to which there is assigned more than one structural analysis at the grammatical level of analysis." (1977) Possible factors leading to structural ambiguity are attachment, coordination and ellipsis.
　　2.4Pragmatic ambiguity.Pragmatic ambiguity arises when the addresser in a given context conveys to the addressee more than one illocutionary acts or forces synchronically with an uncertain, vague or indirect expression. The addresser"s words themselves are unambiguous, but the meaning is not uniquely determinable.
　　3. How to treat ambiguity properly
　　To avoid the negative effect of ambiguity in communication, we have concluded some possible means to disambiguate on basis of the causes of ambiguity already discussed above. Who started the trouble shall end it, and it is a return to context that forwards the best means to disambiguate.
　　3.1Disambiguate through contextualization .Context plays the most vital role in determination of word meaning. The meaning of words may be viewed as determined both by linguistic/verbal contexts (co-context) and extra-linguistic/non-verbal contexts (Context of Situation).
　　Although ambiguity can be deemed ubiquitous as a property of linguistic expressions, not much ambiguity or confusion is created in daily communication. It shall attribute mostly to the influence of context, which runs towards two opposite directions, i.e. context can cause ambiguity to come into being, and it is by turning to context that ambiguity may be eliminated.
　　3.2Disambiguate through sentence transformation or paraphrase.
　　The seniors were told to stop demonstrating.
　　The sentence can be converted into the following two:
　　The seniors were demonstrating and were asked to desist.
　　People were demonstrating and the seniors were asked to stop them.
　　Sentence transformation, which to some extent resembles the way of paraphrase, shall be applied carefully, under the premise that the meaning of transformed sentence must conform to the original one.
　　3.3 Disambiguate through translation.While translation does downgrade the flavor of original text, especially those used deliberately, meanwhile it is able to exclude false implications and clarify the fact. The text about Rocky above, if correctly translated in Chinese, will disperse the doubts whether he is a prisoner or a boxer. This way to disambiguate, however, is restricted in use, for one has to understand at least two languages.
　　3.4 Ambiguity is a reward.Despite the many troubles ambiguity has brought about, it is meanwhile a blessing in disguise.
　　Ambiguity reflects the arbitrariness between linguistic sign and its referent, without which human communication would become unbearably laborious and time-consuming.
　　Ambiguity, if decently used, can help get rid of sticky position in discourse, and help to end embarrassment and troubles with an understanding smile.
　　Ambiguity attributes to written language special artistic effect with a unique air of humor and wisdom. The hybrid of ambiguity and rhetoric is intentionally applied in many writings.
　　A dive into ambiguity is rewarding for language learners to enlarge vocabulary, and to upgrade ability of analyzing and employing language. Meanwhile, one"s imagination can be stirred and intelligence sharpened through this creative language phenomenon.
　　3.5 Application of ambiguity.To achieve aesthetic effect, ambiguity is occasionally applied with deliberation in various domains.
　　3.5.1Application of ambiguity in rhetoric.Ambiguity has spotted its niche in rhetoric. It prepares the ground for pun, euphemism, metonymy and other rhetoric devices.
　　Pun or punning, a play on words, is a kind of double speak with intention for comic effect. Actually the line between ambiguity and pun is rather slim and vague, revealed mainly by whether the comic intent is known for sure.
　　Why are lawyers all uneasy sleepers? Because they lie first on one side and then on the other, and remain wide awake all the time.
　　On one hand, apparently they explain the reason why lawyers feel hard to sleep is that they tossed and turned all night in bed. On the other, this implicates that lawyers tell lies to both sides, for which they have to keep highly alert all the time.
　　The great thinker went to sleep.
　　Without further context, "went to sleep" is the applying of ambiguity in euphemism while meaning "passed away".
　　Metonymy is another rhetoric device that concerns ambiguity.
　　He works in the bar.
　　The bar may be a specific pub selling all kinds of liquids, or it may stand for the line of lawyer.
　　Merged with rhetoric, ambiguity becomes mighty helpful in language use, no matter speech or writing. Ambiguity and the uncertainty it caused in this sense is not to be eliminated, but to be digested and appreciated. To quote Sir Donald Francis Tovey, "Theorists are apt to vex themselves with vain efforts to remove uncertainty just where it has a high aesthetic value." (1935)
　　3.5.2 Application of ambiguity in literature.Take the following excerpt for example:
　　"How is bread made?"
　　"I know that!" Alice cried eagerly. "You take some flour…"
　　"Where do you pick the flower?" the White Queen asked, "In a garden, or in the hedges?"
　　"Well, it isn"t picked at all," Alice explained, "It"s ground…"
　　"How many acres of ground?" said the White Queen.
　　(Lewis Carrol: Alice"s Adventure in Wonderland)
　　Hard as it is to translate into Chinese, the story is made interesting by employment of ambiguity and wins generations and generations of children.
　　3.5.3 Application of ambiguity in registers .Registers such as notices, news headlines and advertisement slogans have to be concise and attracting, or designed for other purposes, where ambiguity helps.
　　Sagging Spirits in Scotland (Newsweek, 1983)
　　As the line of spirits in Scotland underwent a depression and the daily output of spirits was brought down, staffs of spirit production were in low spirit. The double meanings are expressed synchronically only by four words.
　　More Sun and Air for Your Son and Heir.
　　The piece of ad helped a resort win big money. It is well up to standard with Tanaka"s AIDA principles of an expecting advertisement, i.e. attention, interest, desire and action.
　　3.5.4 Application of ambiguity in music and movie.The lines in songs and movies often resort to ambiguous words for aesthetic effect.
　　Doe, a deer, a female deer.
　　Ray, a drop of golden sun.
　　Me, a name I call myself.
　　Far, a long long way to run.
　　Sew, a needle pulling thread.
　　La, a note to follow Sew.
　　Tea, a drink with jam and bread.
　　That"ll bring us back to Doe. (The Sound of Music)
　　Homophonic ambiguity is made good use of in this piece of movie music. We cannot help adoring the song writer"s wisdom.
　　3.5.5 Application of ambiguity in daily communication.A professor tapped on his desk and shouted, "Gentlemen---order!"
　　 The entire class yelled, "Beer!"
　　The professor in face of such a clever response may just end his short-temper with a grin.
　　A: David, didn"t you hear the weather report?
　　 B: Well, I"ll take an umbrella.
　　Apparently both had listened to the weather report and knew it might rain that day, so the implication of A was correctly received by B. A"s way of requirement sounds very polite and euphemistical, devoid of the possibility of a wrangle. On many occasions ambiguity is applied in daily life unconsciously to be effective, polite, humorous, and the like.
　　4. Conclusion
　　Ambiguity, with its two-edged effects, seems universal and inevitable in natural language, because of the arbitrary relationship between sign and referent which reflects contradictions between the creativeness and economy of language. We are supposed to treat ambiguity dialectically. Those ambiguities that pose problems for communication shall be avoided as possible as we can. For those we can"t, we accept it as a natural phenomenon and make our best effort to sympathize and rationalize the other side, namely to observe the principle of cooperation in communication so that a conversation can go on smoothly. To eliminate ambiguities, especially intentional ones, is both unrealistic and unnecessary. So we also deem ambiguity as a best reward that enriches our languages, adding charm and flavor to it.
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　　作者简介：
　　
　　姚数萍（1979-）、女、河南洛阳人、助教、硕士研究生。